a love story

When I was a little girl, I was into ant farms, chasing ice cream trucks, and collecting stickers. It wasn't until college before I started dreaming about prince charming {sparked mostly when I'd procrastinate studying at the library}. And because life seems to swivel faster with each year, I decided {and secretly hoped} that fate would bring him to me. Maybe I'd rear-end him with my car, and fall instantly in love... or we'd bump shopping carts in the grocery store.. {you get the idea}. For someone who is always chasing time, I was certain that the love-at-first-sight scenario was the most efficient approach to this entire matter. I really believed in this. I had to, there were so many other important things to do... like graduating.

I transferred to a state school, where among 35 thousand, I felt small, bright-eyed, and comfortable. I was walking slowly across campus one day, with my nose stuck in my history book, when out of nowhere someone in a black shirt appears right in front of me. I stop, annoyed for a sec and about to say, "excuse me," when suddenly I feel a gust of butterflies in my stomach. My knees felt weak when I realized, he wasn't a stranger at all. He was the humble, charmingly witty {to an eleven yr old}, dirty-blonde haired boy from my 6th grade Science class, standing tall, dark and handsome right before me. I thought the butterflies were because I had found an old friend. But a few weeks later, on March 25th, 1998, we went out on our first date. We both went home that night, and knew. Our fairytale was just beginning...

Three years later, on this day, Aaron and I tied the knot before God and our loved ones.

Little did we know about the amount of work that goes into a marriage... preparing and planning for the future together - All we knew on this day was that this is the hand we will be holding, long past we are old and gray - rocking on the front porch, waiting for the great grand-kids to come over. And that image still gives me butterflies.

The image in my head - not this one {Aaron PhotoShopped us into this pic back in '04}. It makes me laugh.

 

We've been saying it all week - "I can't believe its been 10 years... really?" No! The laugh lines on our face confirm this to be true. I went through some of our old pictures today {spring cleaning still..} and there were so many journeys from this past decade - globe trotting to more than 50 cities, two home renovations, and our own new lives as parents to two amazing children.

I am so blessed to be walking this earth with you Aaron, holding my hand. Happy 10th Anniversary...

... you still give me butterflies....

nurture everyone's needs

Ava and Noah are under the covers these days - together. Both ran a small fever, runny noses, some coughing and ugly upset stomachs. When Ava cried - Noah chimed in. When Noah whined, Ava wanted up in my arms also. I spent the day juggling between nurturing each individually or together in my arms, Dad calling asking about email [??], laundry from last week, vomit, laundry from today, preparing lunch, more crying, preparing lunch again so that they would eat something, and of course meeting deadlines for work. It was the slowest morning I've experienced since I was 10 yrs old. I'd check my watch - nap time yet? No - 4 more hours to go - egh.

All of a sudden, there are these moments - too precious to walk away from after snapping a shot with the camera. So I stayed, and comforted them while they were being comforted by their beloved Scholastic tapes, crackers and prune juice.

And moments like these, in bed together reading books and sharing their ultimate favorite Baby Mum-Mums rice rusks. At one point, Dr. Noah extended his finger out to Ava to remind her to rest.

And with all this fun - nice long naps came out of it - and a mommy who regained all consciousness to hit the office and crunch some web designs. Before I knew it, nap time was over, Noah was crying again and Ava repeated "Ava's awake" at least 5 times. So the afternoon began to take a deep plunge UNTIL super Mom showed up at my door - aka my Mom. She was in the area for a Dr's appt and decided to surprise me and Aaron with a date night instead of our usual Thursdays. Oh - how perfectly-you-read-my-mind kind of a Mom she truly is.

I showered, lined my eyes, and threw on a new top. Aaron who was occupying Ava outdoors had no idea what we were up to until I opened the door and said, "guess what - we're going out - tonight!"

And we did - we indulged on braised beef and bills, strawberry Napoleons and satire, coffee with lots of cream and conversation. And the fire behind our backs was the perfect backdrop setting to a long fulfilling day as parents and husband and wife.

*Tip #1: If I could give unsolicited advice to new parents - it would be this: make a date with your spouse - at least 1x week. Because parents are couples - and both need to be equally nourished and replenished now and then. It is SO important to us that Ava and Noah experience their mom and dad with genuine laugh and love when we are all together. And that means making time for yourself and your partner. Have those obligating topics of conversations [like finances]- as well as romantic whispers in the ear [think sexy] - for nights out on the town - alone. Get on the mailing list to upcoming performances on stage or try scoring some tickets to a game. Make it fun - and mix it up from time to time so that you will keep up with it. Oh - and take turns planning!

*Tip #2: I discovered [not me personally - I found it online] a cure for constipation with kids. It has worked every time and today was no exception - mix a cup of water with corn syrup [um... about 2 tblsp] and have them drink the entire cup - they will - it's pure sweetness. Don't go overboard with the syrup though. Just enough to get the job done.

here's to 7 years... and to one day slowing down

Approximately twenty years ago, Aaron and I first met. It was the first day of 6th grade science class when we had to go around the room and introduce ourselves.

Ten years ago, we bumped into each other on the UNT campus when I was trying to read and walk at the same time and Aaron ran into me on purpose. He literally took my breath away. It has been about 3 years since we last talked [and he had changed quite a bit since 6th grade]. We exchanged phone numbers and started dating since that encounter. I still blush when I think about those days.

And on this day, seven years ago, we were married. This year, there was no cruising along the Amalfi coast or 6,000 miles across the US. No shopping in Florence or Carmel. No sun bathing, hiking or B&B hopping on this anniversary. Just us, the kids, and a short-drive east to historic Jefferson for a day poking around a small town and having old-fashioned milkshakes with the two most important little people in our lives.

It was a short sweet relaxing trip for the two of us. We both actually talked more in the 3 hour car ride [each way] when the kids were sleeping than we had all week at home. Didn't realize how much conversation gets interrupted at home until we were in the car and strung 3 different topics together. This isn't a revelation as much as it is a reminder to take it slow. A stroll through Jefferson gave us the time to do just that.